KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Splendor was first launched in India in 1994.
- Mid-cycle updates introduced features like an electric starter and alloy wheels.
- current top-spec variant of Hero Splendor also has an LED headlamp and a full LCD instrument console.
If it isnt broken, why to fix it? Thats the notion Hero MotoCorp has been following with the Splendor Plus. Launched first in 1994 under the Hero Honda collaboration, the Splendor is one of those products that has continued to be on sale even after the split between Hero MotoCorp and Honda. Even today, due to its strong brand image as a fuel-efficient and cheaper-to-maintain motorcycle, it remains the highest-selling motorcycle in the country.
With more than four crore customers since its launch, the Hero Splendor Plus has been a phenomenal success story in the Indian two-wheeler industry. It was the first motorcycle to make people consider the aspect of fuel efficiency seriously, initiating a whole new concept of introducing fuel efficient motorcycles.
We look at how this brand was born in India and managed to come this long as the Hero Splendor Plus, while being a consistent success story in all these years. In the meantime, make sure to join 91Wheels Whatsapp Channel to never miss out on automotive update.
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Hero Splendor Plus Old vs New: Design And Brief History
The present iteration of the Hero Splendor Plus looks entirely similar to the first model of the Splendor, launched in 1994 as a successor to the Hero Honda Sleek. The first major update for the Splendor came in 2004, with the motorcycle getting a BS2-spec engine, a multi-reflector headlamp, a new tail lamp and the option of alloy wheels.
The third-generation Splendor came in 2011 with the BS3-spec version of the same 97.2cc engine, but it now has the branding of Hero and not Hero Honda. In 2017, the fourth-generation Hero Splendor arrived with the BS4-spec engine and i3S (idle start-stop system). The current version of the Hero Splendor is the same fourth-generation model but with the BS6-compliant version of the same engine.
The Hero Splendor Plus is now also available in a new range-topping XTEC variant, which was updated with a new LED headlamp with integrated LED DRL, full-LCD instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity and revised tail lamp and turn indicators.
Hero Splendor Plus Old Vs New: Engine
The engine that gave Hero Honda its identity as the pioneer of fill itshut itforget it , the 97.2cc single-cylinder engine of the Splendor, has remained its constant companion throughout its existence. The engine was first introduced in the Hero Honda CD100 and later fitted in the Splendor, too, making it one of the most fuel-efficient motorcycles in the country.
Even in its present iteration, the Hero Splendor Plus has the same single-cylinder, air-cooled, 97.2cc engine, albeit with tweaked internals to comply with the most recent emission norms. Paired with a 4-speed transmission, this engine now claims 8.0 bhp of maximum power and 8.05 Nm of maximum torque.
Hero Splendor Plus Old Vs New: Features
Catering to a cost-conscious segment of buyers, the Splendor has always remained a humble commuter motorcycle. The earlier iterations of the Splendor were very basic in their approach, with this commuter motorcycle only getting a multi-reflector halogen headlamp in its first upgrade.
The following updates added more features to the Splendor, including alloy wheels and an electric starter. The most recent upgrades to the Hero Splendor have made it a much better-equipped motorcycle than before, with modern-day features like an idle start-stop system and side stand engine cut-off. The new range-topping Splendor Plus Xtec variant even gets an LED headlamp and a full LCD instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity.
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Verdict
At a time when two-stroke motorcycles were ruling the Indian roads, the Splendor came in. It dominated the market with its different approach of having a four-stroke engine delivering class-leading fuel efficiency. This added advantage over other similarly priced two-stroke motorcycles made the Splendor a popular bike among the masses who genuinely needed a fuel-efficient motorcycle to keep their savings in check.
Even today, the Hero Splendor Plus continues the long-standing tradition of the brand Splendor of being an economical commuter motorcycle that is also extremely efficient to run and maintain. With the new generation features, especially in the Xtec variant, the Splendor has also managed to be relevant with the changing times.
